Pleaded guilty to pirating 'Malagiya Aththo'

(Published in Daily Mirror on October 10, 2015)

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya on Wednesday (7) reserved his verdict on an individual who pleaded guilty to pirating Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra's renowned novel 'Malagiya Aththo' for October 28.

On a raid carried out by CID, following a complaint made by Mrs. Lalitha Sarathchandra, spouse of the late Professor, had recovered 31 copies of the novel printed illegally and left for sale at various book shops by the suspect.

Magistrate Pilapitiya directed the CID to file charges against the suspect under the Intellectual Property Act and also directed the police to fingerprint the suspect.

The claimant, Mrs. Sarathchandra told the Magistrate that she does not want any compensation, since the work done by her husband, Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra, was priceless, but in return she asked the Court to impose the maximum punishment against the accussed.